Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant Opens On S.R. 56! 

(Photos: Charmaine George) 

Welcome to the neighborhood, Cooper’s Hawk! The winery and restaurant chain, with more than 55 locations in ten U.S. states (including more than a dozen in Florida) began celebrating its Nov. 20 Grand Opening on S.R. 56 a few days earlier with some Friends & Family days and a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting (photo below left) on Nov. 18. 

Photo above courtesy of North Tampa Bay Chamber.

As long-time Cooper’s Hawk Wine Club members who also have eaten at the restaurants in Tampa and Sarasota about two dozen times, Jannah and I were as excited about the Wesley Chapel opening as the rest of the community appears to be. 

Founder and CEO Tim McEnery was on-hand for Cooper’s Hawk’s NTBC ribbon-cutting event and, since he opened his first location in Orland Park, IL, in 2005, the restaurant chain’s wines have won hundreds (nearly 600) of awards and the food (some of which is shown on this page) is definitely a cut above what you find at most chain eateries. 

In addition, Wine Club members receive a number of outstanding benefits, including two free wine tastings (the “Lux” tastings come with a small upcharge), accumulating points for each time you dine at the restaurant, a credit for free dining on your birthday and much more. 

Tasty pan-roasted mahi-mahi

And, even though I used to wonder how a winery located in Woodridge, IL, could possibly offer a wide variety of delicious wines, after eight years of tastings and dozens of bottles that we have both enjoyed ourselves and given as gifts to other oenophiles, I can assure you that a Cooper’s Hawk Wine Club membership is the way to go. The grapes the company imports from every great winemaking region across the globe are blended into everything from Barbera to Zinfandel, with lots of options for both you sweet wine drinkers and for those who prefer a little dust on their palates when they imbibe. 

And, if you prefer hard liquor or beer over wine, Cooper’s Hawk has an ultra-premium bar to meet your needs, too. 

The best news of all is that although dining at Cooper’s Hawk isn’t a 15-30-minute process, the service we have experienced so far has been super-attentive and on point. 

There’s even a private dining area for up to 48 guests that can be divided into two 24-seat private rooms perfect for birthday parties and other special occasions. 

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant (28963 S.R. 56) is open every day for lunch & dinner. For more info, visit CHWinery.com or call (813) 755-4445 & tell GM Joseph McCracken & his staff that we sent you! — GN 

Flourless Chocolate Torte
Churrasco steak
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Fried calamari

Zio’s NY Bagel & Deli Co. — Legit Bagels & Delicious Breakfast & Lunch 

Co-owners Jeff Cofini (left) & Nick Cignarella of Zio’s NY Bagel & Deli Co. in the Pebble Creek Collection. (Photos by Charmaine George)

Although I have known Zio’s New York Bagel & Deli Co. co-owner Jeff Cofini for a number of years, I warned him when he first told me that he was opening a New York-style bagel place in New Tampa that, as a native New Yawka and self-proclaimed bagel aficionado, if his bagels weren’t “legit,” we could have a problem. 

But, while it took a lot longer than planned for Cofini and his nephew and partner Nick Cignarella (in fact, “Zio” means “uncle” in Italian), to open their Zio’s NY Bagel & Deli Co. in the Pebble Creek Collection, there’s no doubt — in my eyes, at least — that it was well worth the wait. 

Smoked salmon and cream cheese on an everything bagel, anyone? 

Zio’s may not have the best bagels I’ve ever tasted, but they are the first legitimate, best NY-style bagels ever sold in New Tampa. I can say, in all sincerity, that anytime I have a hankerin’ for a fried (or scrambled) egg, bacon and cheese or smoked salmon and cream cheese on a sesame or everything bagel (which I get often), with an extra-crisp hash brown patty on the side, my car already seems to know to take me to Zio’s. 

But, Zio’s offers more than just great bagels. Jannah and I (as well as photographer Charmaine George) all already have our own favorites. 

The steak, egg & cheese wrap.
The Melvin sandwich (shown with a crispy hash brown patty.

For breakfast, while Charmaine is partial to the steak (grilled Boar’s Head roast beef, actually), egg and cheese wrap or omelette, Jannah prefers Zio’s homemade chicken salad as a melt (with cheddar cheese) on a toasted, scooped-out Asiago cheese bagel. 

The All Jacked Up sandwich.

And for lunch, while I have consistently enjoyed The Melvin (grilled Boar’s Head pastrami and corned beef, with melted Swiss and cole slaw on grilled rye or pumpernickel bread), I also found the All Jacked Up sandwich (with grilled Boar’s Head deluxe roast beef, melted pepper jack cheese, sautĂ©ed onions, lettuce and tomato with spicy brown mustard, mayo or thousand island dressing) on a hoagie roll to be outstanding, too. 

And, although she always asks for just two slices of bread, instead of the usual three it comes with, Jannah loves the Double Decker, featuring Boar’s Head Ovengold turkey, with Boar’s Head cheddar (instead of the American cheese it comes with), crispy bacon and lettuce on grilled pumpernickel bread. 

The Harvest salad features Boar’s Head Ovengold turkey & Swiss cheese pinwheels.

Charmaine enjoyed the smoked salmon bagel sandwich, as well as the Harvest Salad (with crisp romaine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, shredded carrots, sweet dry cranberries and walnuts, topped with pinwheels of Boar’s Head Ovengold turkey and Swiss), as well as Zio’s grilled cheeseburgers and crispy fries. 

Jeff says that although many of the items mentioned so far are among his top-sellers, “We sell more of the Italian Combo than any other sandwich for lunch.” The Italian Combo is piled high with Boar’s Head Capy hot ham, Genoa salami and pepperoni and is topped with provolone, lettuce, tomato, red onion and Italian dressing. He says the Taylor ham, egg & cheese dominates breakfast, and breakfast and lunch are both served whenever Zio’s is open, so you can have your breakfast favorites for lunch and vice-versa — and the prices definitely are fair. 

A catering tray of bagels, spreads, salads & muffins.

Zio’s also has fresh-baked muffins in a variety of flavors and delicious gourmet gavina coffee. Catering is a specialty if you have a meeting, party or event coming up. In fact, Zio’s provided a beautiful spread of bagels, butter and cream cheese (including a sweet maple walnut cream cheese) for the Neighborhood News-hosted North Tampa Bay Chamber coffee meeting last month and everyone raved about the bagels. 

Zio’s New York Bagel & Deli Co. is located at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. It is open Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.; and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call (813) 388-9498 or search “Zio’s New York Bagel and Deli Co.” on Facebook. 

Sustain M.E. Finalizes Its Transition!

What began in 2021 as the second location of Lufka Refillables Zero Waste Store has officially been transitioned to Sustain M.E., which offers a similar variety of “green” & refillable products.

Co-owners Gail Strickland & her daughter Danielle Howard, who have stocked the store with an all-new, locally sourced variety of eco-friendly products, held their North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting on Nov 14.

Look for the story in the Nov 28 edition of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News!

Tomorrow Is Your Last Chance To Win FREE Dining By Voting For Your Local Restaurant Favorites!

Click on the titles below to vote for your favorite restaurants in these categories.

Favorite Pizza Place

Favorite Sushi Place

Favorite Latin (NOT Mexican) Restaurant

Favorite Burger Place

Favorite Asian Restaurant

Favorite Breakfast Place

Favorite Bar or Tavern

Favorite Mexican Restaurant

Business Briefs — Shanks Indoor Golf, O’Reilly Auto Parts & Ribbon Cuttings 

Research by Joel Provenzano 

The area along Wesley Chapel Blvd. in front of the Lexington Oaks development is suddenly alive with new construction. 

We previously reported about the nearly completed Sentosa Lexington apartments, located south of Lexington (Lex) Oaks Blvd., as well as about a new Moe’s SW Grill-anchored retail/office plaza north of Lexington Oaks Blvd. on Wesley Chapel (WC) Blvd. 

Now, however, although construction has not yet begun, The Hub at Lexington is getting ready to begin vertical construction in front of Sonesta by Nov. 1. 

And, although The Hub leasing agent Courtney Bissett-Hayes didn’t confirm it for us, Shanks Indoor Golf & Bar (IGB) reported on its Facebook page that it is “Coming Soon to Wesley Chapel — Nov./Dec. 2024.” 

The Facebook announcement from Sept. 29 says, “Shanks IGB is an indoor facility that offers a realistic golfing experience through the use of advanced technology. Shanks IGB features multiple simulators equipped with high-definition screens, sensors, and computer software that accurately recreate the look and feel of many renowned golf courses. Players can use their own clubs and hit real golf balls into the screen, which tracks the ball’s trajectory and provides instant feedback on distance, accuracy, and shot data. Shanks IGB will provide a comfortable environment with amenities like lounge areas, refreshments, apparel and equipment, DIY Maintenance Stations, and professional instruction, allowing golf enthusiasts to play, practice, and improve their game regardless of weather conditions or time of day.” 

Our editorial researcher Joel Provenzano was able to locate a Pasco County development record stating that, “The project is proposing the development of a 40,000-sq.-ft. retail/restaurant center at the SW corner of WC Blvd. and Lex Oaks Blvd. This project is a part of the Lexington Oaks Plaza MPUD.” The property owner is listed as Specialty Restaurants Corp. in Costa Mesa, CA, and the applicant on the development request is Landis Evans + Partners in Lutz. For more information, visit ShanksIndoorGolfBar.com. 

O’Reilly Auto Parts Isn’t Shanks 

A while before I heard about Shanks, Jannah and I had been seeing a new building under construction at the southern end of the Sentosa apartments and wondered what it was, so I had Joel check it out and he found that the building (right photo) — which seemed to have no windows so we assumed it wasn’t a restaurant — and Joel found that it was an O’Reilly Auto Parts store, not Shanks (or another restaurant), as I had originally hoped. 

We had no further information about the building at our press time, as Joel couldn’t find any actual plans for the nearly-completed store, other than an application by One Oak Development, LLC, of Clearwater. The property owner also is Specialty Restaurants Corp. 

Recent NTBC Ribbon-Cutting Events 

In addition to the Spinner Law Firm and Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel events in conjunction with the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC), we attended a couple of other recent ribbon cuttings events where the NTBC brought its scissors. 

The first, on Oct. 17 was for Shells Florida Realty (left photo) and Broker/owner Michele Curtin, who has her office at SOAR Co-Working in Tampa Palms. Although she has worked for other real estate companies before, Michele said she named her own company “Shells” because people never spell her first name correctly, so she just calls herself “Shell.” The long-time New Tampa resident says she specializes in residential properties in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, but can help home buyers and sellers anywhere in Florida. 

For more information, call or text Michele at (813) 751-1211 or visit ShellSellsFloridaHomes.com. 

Then, on Oct. 19, business consultant Jonathan McKeen-Chaff held a ribbon cutting for his Prepense Business Solutions at the Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC)’s SmartStart location at The Grove. 

Jonathan used his joint NTBC and Dade City Chamber ribbon-cutting event (above) to present Prepense’s “Cash Flow River: Our Philosophy of Marketing.” For more info about Prepense Marketing, call Jonathan at (352) 428-6067 or visit PrepenseSolutions.com. 

For more info about the NTBC, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com or call (813) 994-8534.Â